Smart metering - Smart Energy GB
About this good practice
Smart Energy GB is the campaign for a smarter Britain. Smart Energy GB is a not for profit company to make sure everyone understands smart meters, everyone knows how to get one and everyone knows how to use their smart meter to get their gas and electricity under control.
The website contains:
- useful resource materials for use by local organisations / authorities to support the roll out smart meters including resource packs for schools. All the materials are free to download / print
- information for citizens on how to get a smart meter from their provider
- information on what a smart meter is and how to use it
- information of how a smart meter is installed
- information on grants available to support an event to promote smart metering
- information on why citizens should have a smart meter
The Smart Energy GB campaign uses Einstein as a creative vehicle. Einstein was selected to front the campaign as a highly recognisable and credible character who personifies ‘smart’ modern technology and is able to humanise the benefits of smart meters. Using humour, Einstein aims to create emotive associations and deliver a wide range of messages about the household and national benefits of smart meters.
The campaigns shows how a smart meter prepares Britain for a smart living future e.g. smart energy grids and electric vehicles.
Smart Energy GB not only directly support/advise members of the public but also provide resources to other organisations to spread awareness about smart meters across England, Scotland and Wales.
Resources needed
Free resources are available for download from the Smart Energy GB website. Some materials can be edited to include organisational logos / messages.
There is an opportunity to bid for funding to promote smart meters.
Smart Energy GB is independent from government and has a budget of £48m
Evidence of success
There are various tools to evidence the success:
1) 14.70 million smart and advanced meters installed including 11.67million in domestic dwellings
2) Estimated savings of 29.7 tonnes of carbon by 2030
3) 95% of adults reached through the Gaz and Lecky campaign across radio and in print
4) In 2017 - 66 organisations awarded grants for smart meter projects
5) In 2017 - a further 180 smart mete champions created across 88 organisations
Potential for learning or transfer
Huge potential to reuse materials, ideas, campaigns as the challenges are similar across Europe around the readiness and willingness to accept and use smart meters in homes. One thing which is essential is educating people to use smart meters and learn how a smart meter can be useful in the transition to a smart way of living such as understanding a solar pv on site and its roll in balancing, becoming a prosumer, when it is best to charge your electric vehicle etc.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Leicester City Council